“Take me to the stair steps!”

I can’t tell you how many times I heard that last week. There was inevitably a tiny index finger raised in the air and a look of pure sass and determination on Ellie’s face. We went away for a few days and she was in love with the hotel pool.

The two little flaws in our whole swimming and relaxing operation? Ellie can’t swim and I completely spaced on bringing any sort of floating device for her so that she could wander around on her own. Instead, I served as her water taxi, making countless trips up and down the pool. We escaped a few shark attacks, floated past a mermaid or two, and used the pool’s jets as “sinks” and “dryers.”

Even better than the pool was the beach, where she was much more free to join her sister on adventures. She may not have dived into the waves to collect rocks like Samantha did, but she collected buckets and buckets full of wet sand.

Needless to say, all of our water activities got pool and beach toys on the brain to better prepare for our next little adventure. And I already know one thing for sure: some baking sand toys are definitely getting added to our gear for my Cutthroat Kitchen loving ladies!

My daughter’s swimming lessons are starting up a week from today. This realization has kicked  my swimwear fears into high gear. Last summer I had just had my little bean and decided that I was only going to focus on finding cover ups that could take me from place to place. I was all about girl power and body acceptance. While I’m trying to stay on that train this time around, my needs are definitely completely different.

Last summer I was keeping one eye on my nervous five-year old in the pool while trying to rock my newborn and keep her asleep to avoid too much sun exposure. This summer I will have a much more confident six-year old who is already talking about adventures in the deep end and a 15-month old who fears nothing. I fully expect to be run ragged and am OK with that (chasing wild children counts as a workout, no?). The one thing I’m concerned about  is eliminating the possibility of a wardrobe malfunction.

I declare this year my Summer of Coverage. I’m not looking to be matronly. I just want to make sure I have some pieces that won’t leaving me pulling and tugging and fearing I can fall out at any moment. Because really, who needs a nagging fear of wardrobe malfunctions in the back of your mind when you’re trying to wrangle adventurous water babies?

1 Old Navy maxi cover up / 2 Splendid terry dress / 3 Lauren by Ralph Lauren swimdress / 4 Jantzen swimdress / 5 Old Navy striped cover up / 6 Athleta caftan / 7 Old Navy boyshort / 8 Old Navy shorts

Have you found swimwear or cover ups that you swear by? My hunt is in high gear and I would love and and all recommendations!